Matan was born in Rishon LeZion, Israel in 1982. He started dancing as a child, and at the age of 15 was accepted to Thelma Yellin High School of the Arts. During these years, Matan also studied at Bat Dor Dance School, and at age 17 he attended the Juilliard summer program.
After high school, at age 18, Matan was accepted to the Batsheva Ensemble. He performed with the young company for two years before joining the main company for ten more seasons. During the twelve years Matan danced in Batsheva, he was a part of some of Ohad Naharin’s greatest creations such as Three, MAX, The Hole, and many more.
From 2013-2017, Matan was the director of the Batsheva Ensemble, which has become one of the leading young companies in the dance world. The year he became director, he won the Yair Shapira award, and the ensemble was named the best performing company by Israel’s Ministry of Culture.
From July 2020 until December 2021, Matan was the main rehearsal director for Batsheva Dance Company.
As part of Matan’s relationship with Naharin, Matan stages his choreography internationally. He has set work on the Paris Opera Ballet, Oslo Ballet, Rambert Dance Company, Gauthier Dance, Ballet De Rhin, and many more troupes. Matan has undertaken a long, meaningful process with Naharin’s movement language and is a senior teacher of Gaga.
